Do you ever feel guilty?

I do.

Every day.

I know I shouldn't, but that's how it is.

I feel guilty about all the things I never have time to do. I always lack hours. I need way more then 24 hours a day - I need at least 36!

What to do?

I have tried to run faster, work faster, think faster. It doesn't help. I only get more stressed. I have for years tried to find a way to keep up with work, housework, family and different hobbies.

I have tried to clean the house completely, promising myself that I would keep it that way. Didn't last. I only got irritated that I still made a mess of everything and that I often was too tired to clean up after myself. And truth is, I even got angry and husband and child for not keeping everything as clean and tight as I really wanted it.

I found that I had way too much of this

while this was looking at me - laughing at me

my knitting and my books - just waiting for me - waiting for me to stop feeling guilty and start enjoying them instead.

So I started my To-do-List

Everyone knows the to-do-list - I think we have all at some point in our lives tried them. Honestly they are the most fun when we write them for others - am I right?

Here is mine

I am sorry that the picture is so hazy - but I'm sure you get the point.

I bought a very pretty book - but any piece of paper will do - and then every day when I eat breakfast I write the things for today.

The first day I didn't have so many things, but still I didn't have time for them all. So the next morning when I wrote the new list, I took all the items from yesterday - that I didn't have time for - and listed them for this day too. Admitted that can sometimes give some very long lists, but  - 

 I do not feel guilty anymore

 

 

I know that what I do not have time for today - I will have on my list and therefore it will not be forgotten, It will just be a bit delayed.

I am not saying that this will reduce stress for everybody - but it sure did reduce my stress - So now I have time for this blog, my Instagram, my knitting, my reading - and my cleaning - because now I do not waste so much time feeling guilty.